Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a type of bacteria called Leptospira, which can infect humans as well as domestic and wild animals such as horses, pigs, cows, rats and mice. Leptospirosis occurs worldwide. In Queensland it occurs most commonly in warm and humid tropical areas and cases of leptospirosis can increase after heavy rain or flooding.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms include fevers, headaches, nausea and vomiting, sore eyes, and sore muscles. Symptoms usually last from 3 days to 3 weeks.
Some people can get very sick from infection in the kidneys, liver or lungs.
Severe disease can sometimes be fatal.
Treatment
Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics. People who are very sick may need to be managed in hospital.
Transmission
Leptospirosis is spread from contact with the urine of an infected animal. People are often exposed to urine in contaminated or muddy water, mud, soil or vegetation. For example, swimming in rivers or dams might put you at risk if you accidentally swallow water or have open cuts or scratches.
Most people who get leptospirosis work near wild or domestic animals (e.g., farmers, banana workers, crop pickers, veterinarians, meat workers) or do certain outdoor activities, especially around water (e.g. bushwalking, camping, gardening, water sports, or swimming in creeks, rivers, lakes and dams).
Infected animals may not show any symptoms and can carry the bacteria for a long time.
Person to person spread is very rare but has occurred through sexual intercourse and breastfeeding.
Prevention
- Wash all cuts and scratches with clean water and cover with waterproof dressings.
- Cover up with protective clothing such as full-cover boots or shoes, gloves, apron, or a long sleeve shirt when handling animals (e.g., milking, trimming, tagging and birthing), animal parts or feed and when working where animals, including rodents, may have been such as on banana farms.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often, particularly before touching your face with your hands eg. while eating or smoking.
- Shower after work.
- Wash clothes that have been in contact with animal carcasses, tissues or fluids.
- Keep your home and workplace free of mice and rats by cleaning up rubbish and don’t leave food scraps lying around.
- Avoid swimming in floodwaters and walking barefoot through mud from flood waters.
Health outcome
People with leptospirosis usually recover well after antibiotic treatment. Hospitalisation may be required for more complicated cases.
A person who has had leptospirosis can develop the disease again as there are a number of different strains of the bacteria. It is unlikely that they would be reinfected with the same strain.
Help and assistance
For further information, contact your local doctor, health centre or nearest public health unit.
You can also call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) 7 days a week at any time.